The rose garden glowed with a soft, golden light. Fairies, elves, and gnomes gathered near the big rose bushes.
Petal pulled her wings tight behind her back. A squirrel asked, 'Can I have just one petal?' Petal shook her head and flew away.
Night fell over the garden. The gnome hollered from the bramble bush. 'I can't find my way home!'
Petal peeked over the leaves. She spotted the gnome trembling by the thickest thorns. His voice was small and worried.
Petal flew toward the dark brambles. Her gentle glow seemed to shrink in the shadows. She landed near the gnome, clutching her petals tight.
'I'm sorry,' she whispered. 'My light feels too small.' The thorns clicked and closed a little wider. Petal backed away.
A breeze rattles the thorns and the gnome stumbles deeper into the dark. Petal drops to her knees beside him.
She pressed her palms together and thought, It's all right. I've got you. She opened her hands wide.
Every petal flared gold at once. The thorns shivered and swung open like an archway, spilling warm light across the garden.
The gnome's eyes go wide as golden petals drift past the thorns. He takes her hand and follows her path home.
By morning, every bush and stone in the garden was softly lit. The other creatures hummed as they wandered through Petal's shining roses.
The garden rested in its golden glow. Petal slept among her radiant petals.